Newspapers / The Caucasian (Clinton, N.C.) / Feb. 1, 1900, edition 1 / Page 1
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t 5 i VOL. XVIII. RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY J, 1900. NO. 0. 1 I Ably Dicsussed in The Senate States. liiraiiiirif A sm m an k, Why It Should Not Be Adopted.-Intended to Dis franchise Poor and Illiterate White Voters. . Will Establish Rule of the Classes Instead of the Masses. T.rlMWMUS MICTION l.W r:ACTID In the No ii a If on .Monday .Senator I'rltcli r.l KcpKc.I to the Speech of Senator Morgm on the Proposed . Sii'imgc Aiiiendiiieiit In North ( ur oll.ia. 'I he Speech N a Very Kx haiistlve One, And The ('iiiu-.is'uii Kegrets Wit Cannot spare tlio Space to Print it In Full. The Kxtraets filven IJ.-low Comprise Alout Oiie llalf the Speech: Mr. Pritchan!. Mr. Piesiden', I have carefully conside.v 1 the speed) of the honorable Senator rrorn Ala bama en the pending reshiri i. He has (MscuHscd he cjLestio!n at :.siue with grr.H adroitnr.i?. and has diy played that, tplcndid ability whieh he brings to heir upon all the imp oivir t. que-stious that come befoie this body tor consideration. The drstinguishrd Senator under takes to show that this hody does not have jurisdiction of the question in volve! hi the resciUicn. cud in the Text hituth he insi.-i th.it it relates t: a (juestion v a it-h in his judgment is ro-.v bf-frre th.a country for solution hy papular suffrage He says that it is a filtration which can not b? rrpreps ed or evaded in the coming election. In dealing with this particular plu.-c oi the question, he fays: "To refuse now to consider this ques tion ,?s to dr nv the country into vortex of angry and dang?rom ex.-ite:iieut, mc'ii ".s seriously endangered the Re public In 1ST6 and 1S77." I heartily concur in the opinion that .the question does involve the pe;.;-e and welfare cf the nation and the stability of cur ir.istltuti'cns. It docs s-eem 10 nie that no more Important question will lie presented for our ecn-i ieration during t'ne present se:-jsicn of Congress. Article 4, section 4. of the Constitu tion of the United States provides as follows: "The UnitedStates hall guaranteed every State in the Union a Republic nn form of government, and fhall pro tect each of them from Invasion, and on appeal c' the legislature cr o the executive (when the Icgislatifre can not be convened) against domestic vio lence." In roading the ftregcing prov-i.-dou it the Conatltuticn it will be ob.-ervel that It Is the duty of the United States to guarantee to each State a Republican form of government. The language of the Constitution is mandatory, plain and un?quivrcal. When the members of this body took the oath of office, among other things, they agreed to maintain the Constitution cf the United States. However, the honor able Senator dees not entertain this view ss to the amendments in ques tion. He says: "The question of the protection of the suffrage of the negro aganst discrimi nation under the laws is the only one In reference to which the Constitu tion gives specific plenary and discre tionary power to Congress, to b exer cised by appropriate legislation or to be declined if Congress refuses to exercise the power. It is not - man datory and no man can be bound to exercise the power if ht fe$ls that it would imperil the country In the fourteenth amendment the povf er to reject the. negro vote la admitted in favor of the States, and this right is nowhere taken away. '.'If the right thus given to the States Is taken away by the fifteenth amend ment, aa I do not believe that it is, th? power of Congress over the subject i3 again repeated separately in that srnen'dment, and it stands as the sole authority to deal with the subject, to' be "exercised at tha discretion of Con gress. It may be that a power Is given to Congress to deprive the State of the right reserved in the fourteenth amendment, but If to, -it Is only a pow er and Congress U not bound to use it. "Unquestionably this legislative pow er is political and is net Judicial, and it conveys no vested right in the negro race to vote that can stand against the power of Congress to permit a State to disqualify them by refusing to proceel to enforce their demand for the ballot." This Is a startling declaration in view of the plain language container! In the amendments. According to the Senator's contention we can violate the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments with Impunity, Vovlded it becomes necessary to do so in order to perpetu ate Democratic rule In the South. This Bounds very much like the doctrine ad vocated by Calhoun In his time. In other words. It .is nullification pure and simple. That section of the four teenth amendment which relateis to thi, representation of States! In the Elec toral College and la the House of Representatives relates solely to the Instances wherein the States, acting within the scope of their authority, cee lit to deny the right cf suffrage to any citizens residing therein In a manner to as to not discriminate against othet citizen's eilmDiily situated oja account of race, color, cr previous condition or servitude, la -discussing thia phase ot the question, Mr. Blaine, In his Twenty Yea-rs of Congress, says: "The adoption of the fifteenth amend men serlcxsly moilfled the effect'and potency of th second section cf th fourteenth amendment. Under that Blii a time when the colore! race had just rtP 4L. It a been nPad and was in a h?Ip- or tne United ks state of ignorance thought n wi. and proper that they should exerck the right of uffrage,I assume that I am right in contending, &.:ter a lapse ;of thirty years, that it is our duty as I representatives cf the American pea j pie to use all nssans in cur power to j secure the proper enforcement of tat i fifteenth amandmat. i TO FOB THfc TfcOPLt Or THF.1K RIGHTS whi.-h the exilusion of the colored population from the basis cf appor tionment would entail. Hut tha fif teenth amendment took away abso lutely from the State the power to ex cliiiie the negro froni suffrage, and therefore the second section of the fourteen tn amendment can refer only io therse orii disqual'iflearjons. never likely to be applied migiv: lesKcn her votins nonulat on bvU 1 uius ui.; i,Siil o. suurage on tna V ' possession cf a fixed income, or ?omo, or upon at.ior, or upon ; a certain degree cf educa nativity or religions creed, in the power cf the Stated ic is still to apr J iC, r ,;,., 'sr w 11 wnl.rg to hazaird the penalty pre- i n - mi. -. P s n a,-.-, ii -a ii. , :o'. scribed in the fourteenth amendment." Y"a " - '-""l" -iu i . II.; '.aIi .1, aiiU It;af3 IIV U'JUI1 H-S LU LIIC ! the amendments. In view of the fact that this resolu tion relates to the question as to whether or not the Constituli'on of the United States, has been violated by j coiutitution-al enactment by certain j Sltirp wbih m-v K vllcuT ' upon at any tim-t? to legislate, I assume that no civs will controvert th? prepo sition that this body has jv-risdict.ion cf the subject to which it relates. In considering the question the inquiry naturally arises as to whether or not any &late has adepted as a part cf its constitution or by legislative enact ment done that which is calculated to deprive any of its citizens of the privi leges to which they are entitled under the Constitution cf the United States. I am prepared to show that a numbei of States have attempted, by constitu tional enact m-ent, to deprive a certain class of citizen's reid';ng thereiin of privileges tiut are vouchsafed to tlit-.m. by the fourteenth and fifteenth amend ments to the Constitution. The State of Louisiana has already adopted as an amendment to her ccn stivution a provision which is iin con travention cf the fourteenth and fif teenth amendments to the Con'stitutioii of the United States, in that it dis criminates against a ccrta'in class of citizens o? that State to such an ex tent as to deprive them of the privi leges that are guaranteed to other citi zens who are similarly situated. There are ether States that have adopted provisions that are equally repugnant to the amendment in questicn. I call attention to the fart that the. Democratic party in the State which I have the honor in part to represent is attempting to secure the adoption of a proposition to amend our constitution that is in many respects similar to the one which has been adepted by the peo ple cf the State of Louisiana. The Constitution of the United States is not only intended for our guidance as representatives or tne people, out it is consigned to the care and keeping of Congress, and it is the duty of every member of this body to guard with zealous care each of its provisions and at all times to see that the principles enunciated therein are maintained and upheld in the spirit in which they were adopted. Xtecognizing this fact, and realizing the responsibility that rests upon me as a mem'ber of t.hi3 body, I feel that I would be r&ei'eant to the trust im posed in me wera I to remain silent and without protest permit the.Demo cra,tic pairty of Xcrth Carolina to Arlnnt a nnliev that will ultimately re- tiic. ,in thn .'iirf4.iiTnf.nt of our rnre-1 sentation in the House cf Represen- t:i,tlvps ml in the Electoral Colleee. Wha.t is it that enables the States of New York. Oihlo, Pennsylvania, and In diana to exert such a wonderful influ ence in the House cf Representatives? Is it not due to their numerical strength In that body? The greater the numerical strength of a-, State in the House of Representatives the greatei Influence that State will be able to exercise in our national council. It lias often been asserted that the Republican party forced negro suffragt upon the South. This proposition is erroneous. I am prepared! to show that the Democratic party cf the Sopth is in a great measure responsibls for rihe enfranchisement of the negro. It will be TernS'inhered libit the Howard amendment, which among other things provided that the Southern States should resume repreisenifcation in Con gress, did not undertake to place an? restriction upon the States wi-oh re spect to the elective franohlse. It only undertook to fix .the status of citizen ship in each of the States, and, among other safeguards, provided that as long as the negro was denied the right to vote lie should not becounted in the Federal enumeration. - The Howard amendment was re jected by all of the Southern States with the exception of Tenniessee, The legislature of 'North Carolina voted almost unanimously to reject it, I do not propose to discuss the question as to whether or not the adoption of the fifteenth amendment was the propea course to pursue at that time. That question haa been settled by the people of the United States, and the fifteenth amendment 13 as much a part of the OonsiUtutlon of the United States as any other amendment thereto. I find by an eximinfatlon. of the legislative Journals of my Staito that ex- W&FIC0 Thomas J. Jarrls, a leading -D&) I by the Democratic party, Thomas N. Argo, W. v. Greer. P. Hoinett T (5 Humphreys. J. A. Kelly. J. A. Mason. W. p. Welsh. R. D. Whitley. W. L. Lord, L. A. Mason, and J. w. Osborne, all Democrats, voted (or the ratirica ttfa of the fifteenth amendment. If these 'distinguished Democrats it I the Sena tor from Alabama is right in his contention that the negro is not entitled to exercise the elective :fran chise, the Democratic party should have the manhood to propose the ; abrogation cf th fifteenth amendment. This v.-ould raise the issue for -which my distinguished friend contends and would afford the people of the United States an opportunity to pass upon the question the only lawful method by j wiitc-h the colored people can be de 1 prived of the rights which are now ; guaranteed to them by said amen-i-' ment. Judge Story, in his great work on the Constitution, -said: "What is to be i c-ome &f the constitutions cf govern ment if they are to rest not upon tht j plain import of their words, but upon I conjectural enlargement-sand restric itions, to suit the temporary passions land interests cf the. d3y? iet us never..foTgeit tihat our constitutions of government are solemn instruments, addressed to the cemmcn sense of the people, and designed to fix and perpet uate their rights and lib-en ties. The are net to be frittered away to please the demagogues of the day; they are tinna nt !tfi.,i snf.,i, in ihA B,m- vflua . v... .... , .t'i M. ..i' n i i ; - v ni.Tf 'rr i utt " " '-'J th u.-ni rv' t;,o ,,,r.i, I changed only by the sovereign com ra,and cf the pe01ie. Aml tultil the nMjc,r,itv ot t. he Amcil- tyljean people shall decr&s th? abrogation P.J"of that am?.ndme'nf, tihe States are powerless by constitutional enactment ,;., n iU.,. u..u ... - discriailnailo-n aga,':ne't any class of people, res5(Eng therein on account of race, color, or previous condition of CjfipyJJ.g Justice' Swaine in the slaughter house cases, .in referring to these amendment's, among ether things, sail: "Fairly construed, these amendments may be taid 'to rise to the dignity of c new Magna Charta." There lis to-day a manifest dls'posi tion to invade the liberty of the in dividual and to ignore the rights of property a disposition which is con cealed under many pretexts, and re ferring to wliich Mr. Guthrie in his work on the four teen1 h amendment on P3'ge 30 says: "This tendency, bred of envy and -discontent. and the thirst foi organic change call it socialism o: communism, cr what you will is the grave -danger of tfae present, and it threaten.? humiliation and -disaster, la this tendency lies the difficult problem which we cf this generation must pro pare to face and to solve. Much is to be dreaded and guarded against in the despotism of the majority wielding and abasing the power c! legislation, and ignorantly or intentionally undermin ing the foundation 6" the Constitution itself." it has been contended all the while by the Republican party that, in the event of the Democratis party being permitted again to control our affairs, it -would attempt eventually to so amend the coneitiLtution as to exclude the poor and illiterate people of both races from the enjoyment cf the privi lege guaranteed itnem by the constitu tion of 1SG8. On the other hand, the Democrats have strenuously -denied that such was their intention, and, in doing so, have ridiculed the charges made by Re publicans. During the last campaign Mr. Simmons, chairman of the Demo cratic executive committee, devoted a good deal of his time in attempting v convince the people that his party was not inclined to restrict the right of suffrage. I call attention to the fol lowing interview which Mr. Simmons gave out on the 25th of September of that year, published in the Raleigh Xews and Observer, one of the leading Democratic newspapers of the State: "For the past twenty years or more just before eery election, the Repub lican speakers, at theilr midnight meet ings, have been in the habit of telling the negro that if the Democrats came into power their right to vote would be taken away from them. After the Democrats came into power in this State they always had some reason to give i;he credulous beingsi why the Democrats had net disfranchised them as they had before predicted. "F'nst, they told tbeim that If the Democrats' got the State government j they would disfranchise thsm. The M - 'rocracs goi xae ots-.e- guveruiuut nd did mot dfsfranc-Mi'D them." Then they told them that if the Democrats elected a President they would dis frandhise them. The Democrats elected a President and did not disfranchise them. Then they told -them if thh Democrats get control of Congress they would disfranchise them. The Democrats got control of Congress and did not disfranchise tlh'em. All along the honest white man' o" tne biate laughed !at these lies and marveled that the negro did net have sense enough to see that he was being duped. "Finally, the negro himself began to see through the trick. He had seen the Democrats in full power in the State for twenty odd years, and hati learned through experience that that party did net propose to disfrancniss him, and he too began to laugh at these lies," and finally refused to be fright ened by their rot any longer. So the old Republican scarecrow had to be pulled down and put away." I also call attention to the following statement contained ip. aa addrees is sued iand eiign'ed by -the Democratic members c! legislature cf Noriii Caro Una in 1870: " "In the last con-test in this State the principal Issue was upon tha question of colored suffrage and civil rlgbjts cf the colored race. That matter has been decided upon a solemn appeal b the people of the United States. The guaranty of their rights has now be come a part of the Constitution. To that Constitution we have ever been willing to defer; to the laws made in pursuance cf it we yield, ipad ever have yielded a ready obedience. " "The reconstruction acts of Congress, With the cMl and political rights they "i "nfer on the colored race, we regard a finality; we accept them in good terpMtb- 3X1,3 on,e f the Statca of the union. JJei us seeK to rorget tn-? tnt temess of the pai.t, to buiJd up the plat'es m-rtde waste by tit unfoKusaie war, and to promote the sharraony an 1 prciperity of all sections cf cur great country. "The alorcd man new enjoys tht same political and civil rights as the white man. We accept his ttatos as fixed by the constitution of this State an! United States in good faith. We regard it as a final settlement cf the question. It now becomes cur duty a good citizens to elevate him morally and intellectually." Tire foregoing is a portion of the ad dreis in question, which was da'ted o:. the 26th cf March, 1870. and signed by the following gentlemen, who were Democrars,. members of the legisla ture: "h&mas J. Jarvis, o. Tyrell; H. C. Jone3, of Mecklenburg; C. T. Murphy, of Sampson; F. N. Stiruiwick. of Orange; J. A. Moore, of Caldwell; Pla to Durham, of Cleveland; J. A. Moore, of Alamance; R. P. Matheson, of Alex ander; John L. Smith, of Alleghany; J. II. Davis, of Carteret; Philip Hod net t, of Caswell; Joshua Barnes, of Wilson: J. Scott, of Onslow; J. W. Graham, cf Orange; C. Melchor. or Oabarrus; A. M. Robbirts. cf Rowan; J. M. MsLaughlln, cf Iredell; L. A. Mason, of Gaston; R. S. Beal, cf Cald well; W. L. Love, of Jackson; 13. P. High, of Columbus; W. T. Fevebee. o; Camden; T. C. Humphries, ct Curri tuck; J. A. Kelly, cf Davie: J. C. Mc Millan, of Duplin; W. E. Arn:su-K, of Duplin; John Catling, o.f Gates; is. C. Williams, of Harnett; W. P. Weiia. of Haywood; Tilman Far.-ow, of Hyde; T. A. Nicholson, cf Iredell; G. V. Dard son, of Iredell; E. M. Painter, of Jack son; J. L. Robinson, cf Macon; R. D. Whitley, of Mecklenburg; W. W. Grier, of .Mecklenburg; W. W. Bolie, oi Nash; Frank Thompson, of Onslow; T. M. Argo, of Orange; J. Htwkir.?. of Rowan; J. M. Shaver, cf Rowan; J. C. William.?, of Sampson; J. W. Ciaytot-, of Trans vivamla; D. Smith, of Wayne; David ProfKt, of Wnocy; J. O. Hicks, of Clay." This was the position 'aken by tht Democrats in 1870, and when the ques tion arose during the-la-1 campaign! in North Carolina a to whither or feet the Democrats sought to restrict the right of suffrage, the Democrilic ex ecutive ccmxiittee of that State printed the address in que-eirion in full in the De-'mocra'iic campaign bock, beginning on page S. In order to allay tlhis ap prshenolsm the executive committee of that party issued a supplement to their handbook entitled: "Comments by tlit Staite Dem.ccra.tic Committee on the handihook issued by the- People's Partj State Executive Committee," sironglj reaffirming the position taken by 'he members of their legisla ture in 1S70. On page 18 cf the supplement, in di:; cussing the queelion to whether or not tihey prcacsed to disfi archie? t.-ny of the vtters in that State, among other things I find th3 following: "It is ithe poor man's party v Nine teoihs of its mem:cei3 are poor mem. How utterly absurd, then, is the false charge -that the iRepublicans arc trumping up to tfeceive the unwary. In order to give some color to it, thej quote something from a Yankee news paper, whose cwners sxaX editors are, we have always unU-erstood, Republi cans, that Gen. W. R. Cox, wiio lives in Washington, tcld a reporter if tha Eemociats succe.td'ed they would dis franchise the ignorant negro. But Generaf Cox publishes over ills owu!otoitt control of the legislaiture, we same a declarLttion that he never said that and never said anything like it, fcr he well knew that if even (he never eaid that and never said anything like it, for he well knew that if even thb Democrats should succeed and should have control of the legislature they would be poweiiless to disfranchise anybody. The Constitution forbids it. "The Constitution gives the right of suffrage to all male persons over 21 years of age not disqualified by 01 Ime, and the legislature can not add "-or take away a le titer from that. That can only be done by the, people them selves, and the Democrats will never submit any proposf.ton to the -people to take frcm a man his right to vote. No Democrat fcas ever -proposed such a thing. The cbarrge is only intended to miilead, to .tLeceJlve, and to make political capital. It is entirely false. There is not a Democratic convention that would not spit upon the man who might make such a proposition. There is not a .Demosiratic candidate fcr of fice who would not pledge himself most solemnly against it. There is not a man who has any respect for his word who would make such a charge. It is, we learn, made by some radicals, but our people know the character of these men. They have no self-respect, and nobody else respects them. They are not entitled 4o the respect of people because they do not respect them selves. It is wonderful how low down some people can get in political matters; with what unblushing effron tery they can invent falsehoods, until they become like the "organized" being referred to in the Populist Handbook. "As we stated yesterday, the three amendments to the Constitution intro duced and adopted soorr after the war fixed the status of the negroes as citizens equal with that cf t'h'e whites in theilr -rights. The only way to rid the country of the negro ballet is b the same meams and processes that were gone through with to enfranchise him 1n his stolid and stupid condlliou. So it is a lie out of whole cloth when the dirty tricksters imposed upon the ignorant, credulous negroes oy tsrung them that a Democratic victory means depriving them of the right to vote." The foregoing statements indicate the kind of campaign that w-as con ducted by the Democratic party m North Carolina at the last election. The staitemeint contained in the supplement reminds one very much cf the declara tion of the Apcetle Peter cn a certain occasion when he was about to betray our Saviour. It dees seem to me that the statements ought to te tranced as a solemn pledge made by the' Demo cratic party cf North Gcsrolina. to the people cf 4!hat ate with respect to the question of suffrage. At that time we were in the midst of a. most exciting campaign. The Democratic executive committee re alized full we8l that unless it made a full and complete d'einial of the allega tions that were be'Ing made - by the Repubicaias against them' that the voters of tlhat State would again re pirdiate them. There has never been a more binding and solemn contract en tered into :by any pc'liiilcal party than when a mszdority of the people of North CaTclina voted the Democratic ticket with tha assurance from its committee that tihtre was no founda tion fear tire statement that either wihite or cdLored would te deprived of the right of suffrage ia the event of thir party ;hedng sttccessful. They even went so far as to ciiaffaofercze the Re publicans as net "being enitithsd to re spect, and with. Inventing falsehood?, hoping taereljy to ccavince the peo ple that there was not th; slightest foundation- for ths pilon tihat they proposed to disfranchise anv citizen of that State. They iougit to show that tt waj, absurd to even intimate that the Democracy cf North Carolini would favor the abridgment cf the-rigit of suffrage in the slightest degree, and iu order to remove all doubt as to the sincerity cf .their professions, thtr caJled atu;n:ioa to the fact that the Csnstituticn (meaning thereby the Constitution cf th? United States! would not permit them to do that which the RepuU5icans were alleging they would do In the event th?y should succeed. . They said aaiaa; oih-?r things: "There' Is not a Democratic conven tion that would not spit upon the mar. who would attempt to make surji a preposition.'' What pnopositica? The proposition to submit tD the people a proposed amjindment to the Constitution: which should have for its coject the disfran chisement cf the negro. It. was not onSy the Democratic committee that nrade these pledges, but almost every Democratic tan dildate for the legisla ture made pledges to th? voters in their respective c aunties that, if elected, tfaey would oppose any and all measures that might be presented for the disfranchisement of cay class of our citizens. . I do not wLr,h to be understood as saying th:! every Democratic leader in North Carcllm has been guilty ot duplicity in' dealing with our people, because there are several honorable exceptions; and notable amcng these was my distinguished predecessor, the la.te Senator Va;n:ce, who was respected and admired by all parties for bis honesty and strict integrity. So long as iie remained ac the helm cf tht Deniccratic party in North Carolina all attempts to cisfiunchise the poor and illiterate elates cf both races wert fuitile. I am IrJformed thai on one oc casion whtn- it was proposed by that element of th? Democratic party wihich now dominates its actions to pass an elect'lon law which world enable them by manipulation to .fhwart the will cf the majority cl the people, that he went in pettcia to the city of Raleig'h and by his wonderful influence pre vented the censure atlon cf the con spiracy to deprive the people cf their lihe;til:3. It is a remarkable lact chat the mo ment Senator Vance psi'ed away that the element of the Democrat'lc party whicJh toad .been held in check by his influence ct or.ee a'cccirted itself and as sumed control cf the party machinery in that State. If we are to profit by the lessons caught by the election methods in the States cf South Carolina. Louisiana. aQJ -iss:&ji:ppi, v,e are jusrihed in tne assumption tnait the adoption of the pt'c-po-se-d amensd-ment in North Caro lir.a will sound the death knell to tht. aspirations cf every Zeb. Vance Demo crat in ithe State. While the proposed ameniliient is intended to crush out the principles c-f Rc-publicanilsm, it is likewise intended to rliminate thosc wiho entertain the liberal views of the late Senator Vance, as well as those who are not willing to submit to the dictation, c the machine. 'Notwithstanding the many pledges made by the Democrats in order to in duce the citizens of that State, to vote for them and tihereby enable them to tre tenf rented with a prcposlltlon amtrvd cur constitution, which, if adopted, will, in my judgment, dis franchise tbe poor and illiterate classes cf bcith races. Tliey were not .content with submitting this proposition under the ,alr and inipartjlal election law wihic'h toad .been enacted by a legisla latare consisting of Republicans and Populists, and under-which they ihad so recently cbtalned conttrol of the legislature, but, in order to carry into effect the scheme of disfranchisement cf tihe unfortunate classes of our peo ple to whom it aefers, they enacted an election law wiiich is framed with the sole view of manipulating our elections so as to t'hwait the will of the people, and thereby enable them itr dothat wlaich the people would never consent to if given a fair opportunity of ex pressing their views at the ballot box a.ad Slaving the tame recorded as ex-presi-sd. There is mucii in the proposed amendment which is calculated to creiaice apprenension and alarm c: paa peo the pared and well devised scheme by wCricCi it is sought to forever prevent the comm'ca people of North Carolina from participating in the manage ment and control of her affairs. While it is pretended by those who advocate the prcpo'd amendment that its ob ject is to secure white supremacy, at the tame time, there lurks beneath the surface a purpose to disfrancihise thou sands of cur citizens, both -white and colored, and thereby enable a certain class in cur State to hold the officer and enjoy the emoluments r! the same. The preposition w'hic'h they propose to submit Is an attempt ttio confer the right of suffrage by inheritance, "& plan w'hich is repugnant to every prfn ciple of the organic law of the land, and one which ignores all that is sacred and 'dear to a fre? and indepen dent people. If It were possible to en force this unwise provision, it would sooner or later result in the complete overthrow cf that Republican form of government to which we are entitled under the Constitution of the Unital States. There sre perils attending the sub- misiiLcn c. tins aimenamenc wnicn, in my judgment, can not be escaped by the poor and Dliteaate white people or Noittii Carolina, and ia order that 1 may he fully understood when I make this declaration I call attention to the -tCiat in the event tfie Supreme Count cf the United States should el ide that the ancestor and grandfather clause cf the prcposel amer.diment .ia uuconstitutional. there is danger that they may go a eiep funaher and decade that uhe educationall and psiltax qtiali- Scations can properly be segregated from the other provisions, and thereby permitted to become a part cf the or ganic law of our Statte. end as Each apply 4o all classes and races cf peo ple alike, and as a result thousands of wcaite farmers and laboring men would be clilsfiianchi'sed afcd denied the Tights for which their sacestcra fought a Kings Mountain and Guilford Court House My distinguished friend from Ala bama, in attempting to defend the ac tion of the Democracy of Ncrbh Cairo- Iina, failed to consider this important phase of the question. The fact that he did net un'diertake to f.how that there was no danger of section five be ing declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and at the dame time section four permitted to become part of out organize 5aw Is coaclarlve to mj mind that Ihe realizes that there i& rrav doubt aout the reiilt, to say t of the illiterate and poor white line cay cr eiecc.-u u V, . jiaie. ana i. icr on?, win never Rive pie of North Carolina, as well as i before which citizens sou.d be re ;niy ronscnt to a prcpcsltioa wh!Ti haa coWed race It is a carefully pre- J quired to pay their poll vax? Can it f-- object th humilixtioa and de- the leaf of It. and hU t-Merce on thU subject Is enough within itself to alarm every illiterate white man In thit Sutc fo.ir and five of the porasl anxm.!- nT .iT,. 7. Z uuLon. This !s sa erronetnM iiei. and in osVr ih i there may b? no doubt aout the question I call a: ten- tloix ty tha following etaUmetU o'. Chltf Ju.nice Fuller in the Income-tax caves reccrxly decided by the Suprt-nu Cottrt of the United Sta.es: It Is elementary tbat the nan:? astute may be in part constitutional ma u rm uiiruviiuuaiui. ar.i pacs are w trouy independent or ea:a i other, that whl h is constitutional may ' stand wnlle thjt whi:-h is unonstitu-' tlonal will be rejected." This case will be 'orxn 1 in U. S. R ports, page 635. I also c-'ll attention to the case of Riggsbee vs. Town cf Durham. 91 N. C. page' 800; Johnson vs. Wirrslow, N. C, page 553. have the power in dealing wnh this j although they may t V abl to wJ Riji!M fJr hnlc tfc.rti.ted ,h. question to segregate the objectionable and write thy cm axiVt iht-h nsrk'niKor4 sV-e by rila la rfflc or unconstitutional pirt frcm that when J: ecim to tb qn. ;!on of d-hn r of i ft thi- a hu i mt " iuiu uui iu ( iiHiuci n iu lur v.oa .a qU; ..,u uien ariits sec- ; "'rj-.r i-i ;u i wOJ, ., wej ,n!Kjn the cowniv tf Halifax. Uon four depend upen 6e.-t.on five In : can not heap ,a t W x msJa:.ly lAi9 any respect fcr Its validity? In other; - I call a.tent.ca to the followinj !- ov th -.i s t n, .. words, is it net complete within j irr wrl nbylTof .. H Mcbane. vi-jJ.;1. and dnuct giv full me-:ea tu n.n;enr t: of public lc,.nu: on cf jthj.: rounlr fcr !h, !. tU'i..e tcl the le.2vlar.ive wil without referring , ; Mate cf N :h Ca:r n.a Th, . cinJi;f.. Xc.w. rn c (VJ to ecctica five? I rhail assume thai tr -a: .y icu.at the d-p.ctab.e M j, wtaln-ther e::lt.r faile4 to the advocates cf the propored amen a- ! coli;dcn of the pu.ih- .ihccl yUai vr,,M ,v,. mtnt mik. tnr rWm ment. if they should ever rcacn the, n. NQ i riralma. Aain, o-.htr utl,lioJin l!rkf, ,n ninxy or th eoum will take the pos.Uca that tt rs h :c lores the fan that 23 T xclfX nvecr.-.cic ticket. I there is no d:scr:m:n2,tion in tne pro- rc-nt- of th- white popula.n are un- J( not CAr, mh; h h3rn of 4h4. 0.U-aim posed amendment, and that therefen able to l.il and wrl:-. We can 110:, Heaiocr'tV f 11m 1 m-r rarw t., it does net conflict with the fifteenth ( he?, to reduce the p.m-ntaKe of lUit- , h : h amendment Kra.y ,.f t.i.it .state in any PP---"'MhontlMjv an.j ,.1T tbi They will be compelled to take this j degree, with our present whwl ;ill-;),:r r'.f th, n,KT'u tu ,ouTy position in order to obtain standing!, between now and Dtccm-nr. isos .; t-t.kfJ, J. in any court, ana wnen i.ncy cr.ee a.i-i - ""'"'' ' 1 , airt -that it was not the intention of' the proposed amendment hhull apply the legijlaiure tt discriminate agun-.tjto '-r. as colnrt-d pcjpl. any race of people the court will have j Mebane in h: letter .iya: no difficulty in a: nvlng a: ih- con -lu- , . M"'- it. - y , N ortU catulm a h. ca n-aJ and sion that J-ectiou four is complete jllura.y I can only gtve yn;, tt.Kr. 6n! Ut within iUulf, because it certainly pro ; fi? t .ken from the vn.ui Kf Irt ,fc, v.. b. ,fl rnM.a.lmrct vides for that which the alvocates otjOf W. wh;.-h ate as follawa: f JvJ .:1 t: rin p 'ir the proposed amendment s-ay was the II l.teracy o. the whole p.pu.atioa of n u m or h(t flx7A,y t object of these who nam 3d It. Whatir.a prouo. 36 per ceLt. illitf ricy ;Mmh Jn Mh ,.lrrtlcn yi :d was the objert. of the Iegislaruie If h.le popu.ation. -3 p.T cent h-1 fllivlxXmt, ,jrufl.d 1 har d lK-lorn. fca t there wcU r." c.criininacion mtan.7 Was it not to restrict and qualify suf frage? Such beting the cjse, docs noi the 'curt'h secvlon restrict and quali fy suffrage by requiring all the citi zens of North Carolina to be able to read and write the Constitution in th, English language and pay a poll tax as a condition precelent to the right to vote? Can there be any doubt as tc the cons'tructilcn that the court will place upon the proposed amendment? In addition to the dangers already pointed out, there Is another to which r -n'rn oill n .-.Tii f n Ir will ln observed by reading section five that jae 'iji. ijioii;j (tj me a reads ais follows: ' ..t,ii-i i. - u k,v ..i ,,n (ur r.nive,i hv law." CX.V. IUC.I IV1A .UA .-'J . i - That is to say, the grand la faer clause will not avail . thoso citizens, who, in cor'sequence of poverty and misfortune, are unable to pay thlr poll tax on or before the first of March in j "We epenl $S36,000 for three an 1 ont tihe year In whldh they propose to i half nvorjihs sohool. and this paya only vote, as provided in section four cf the a salary to teachers cf an average of proposed amendment. Ti'.-s cause, u adopted, will disi'iElchise many cf the best people of our State. There are hundreds of good citizens to bi found! in every county of Noi'.ih Carol-in a wfou) do not pay their poll tax promptly on j or before the firrt day of March, owing i to some misrc nt urate ever wn.ca ia have no control. It is only th? rich class of pctiplc. and these who are en gaged in business in the towns and cities, who can promptly pay the'r poll tax cn cr before the first day of March of each election year. I am informed that the fsamtra of the amendment, after they had in serted the educational qualification, be came alarmed leit cur poor people yhoul l all learn to real anl write, and in order ta render it more difficult for fchat class of people to exercise the right cf suffrage it was provided that they should not only be able to read and write any section cf the Constitu tion in the English language, but It Is also provided that tliey must pay their poll tax on or befcie the 1st day of March. Why fix the 1st Cay or Marcn? And Why was it that they failed to fic bhat if more time wa3 given our pae- ile it might enaole them to rraiiZsj ca. .ihe'r crocs, or by nara- lauor wm enoirgli money and py their r-l tax id thereby qualify tnemseives ta exer- :e the right cf franchise? In icrdc-r that ycu may fully under - stand and appreciate the result of the proposed amendment it is necessary fcr eacn ciuzen oi -u.wu answer this ouestion: How many men in your voting precinct, if called upot. to-morrow to write any section of the Constitution in the Engnsn language, frcm dtctailioa. would be able to cor rectly write the same, and If they should succeed in elolng to. how many are able to pay their tax promptly on or before the 1st day cr March ia each e.1 ,it irvn reir' Cl.tava j - nuTinz the late civil war there were r.-i nr.T.n?:.tv- or educational qualifica tions required of those who were called be p033.:oie tnat it o.-civn u i gra.tacion cr tcre nnrortunate peo- upon to fight for the Confederacy, j j. is av51irl to contend that there is neitcer were there any educational or,any cjjeor cf negro domiratHon In property qualifications required, cf thfcU-ij Carolina. In the very nature cf t rave ana paxrrac vu -'Jlw boy3 who responded to ncbly to the call c! their country during the war wla Spain, Many cr tne nrave oos who faced the shot and fctell during tie war wiJh Spain, were unable to read and witlte. and I am informed tfcat aa examinatloa of the muster rolla discilcsea the fact that not a member e.f the legislature whicn sub mitted the proposed amendment par ticipated in that prtruggre. It Is not t he Sr t time in history that an attempt has been made by the rich end edu cated to cast reflection tipoa the Illit erate class. . . After the battle of Cowpens the Bn tith office., Tarlefcm, in conversation w' a Mr. Wiley Jon3, of North Caro lina, observed: "You appear to thiak very hiMv of Colonel Washington; iojI yet I have been told that he I so Jgzorant a fe'-law that "he '-an "hardly write tbls own name." "It may be the case," he readily Tepliea. "out no man tf axr than ycurseir. Colonel, can tes tify that he knows how to make his mark." It w23 in the battle of Cow pens, that Colonel Washington had wounded Tarleton In the band, and which caused Mrs. Jones to make the pointed retort. Some of the best people In my State, owing to circumstances over whic'j they had no control, are unable to read aad write, but they know how to make their marks, and many of them have acquired "what might be termed, targe fortunes; and in almost every Instance they are people of fc"sh Ir.telllRence to vote on any of rb crt f i".o..vu.. i" j.- w .uuai.urg u ufim i Arnei.'mn r.n! '.-r t Hv r rn.iUi. r reflation ron thenn n4 Vpriv thm't or "uir Ur'y TrlMoa iwoprl.! u:.f..s icriil u. iur lt.n.'...ri i:r Jn ..is. ia j sue- nox roric-t r? r-ri taiiioi ' in.-i--, -(..jv.. v i t-htr aacestcm tonht at Wivpetu. It ,iuma h-n t!y thonjtt Si it Is the p-jor and lllitcri c'-jf s of out wh a icUcr vovll rr.jVi. Hhm u (people wao prrform the plater ior- ccrtucl iux lia. Tai flr wx'.u ! tlaa of the public lai itsjulrti ! 'tK-n roovrmnt artarl j th s.ate. jXonh CjrlinA vi .-c-rrej :c. l- j In time of peace :h"y aie requiu I to tan tie o'jri cf Vzxttn Cnuoty rpay poll tax an t work ch toj H. aadlno the ot.c juu aa4 the tvna-ratlc in time of war they cirri Are thir j pmjr tf tht cnotv on th r:Vr part j health : 1 rl.-k tbr'.r Hvr.i in UfffZse; Thre- $1 "cur.W in Nrt o. or peoji?. i ne Mate or .NortniCircxi if tuji r fWe ar. i.a:t.;na nas not arTor-j; ! her .; prcp?r durxlluni! faS!ii!e in th P at r.d 11 IfKUl e have a lirge per i.-ct. f Illiteracy; and the IKmo-fhecn craJc party, having been lu otvtrol of iae Ma.e :oc Krea:,r noruca r 't la ft, , liiu- sli..-? the ir, I rcs;on.'ible fT!;or;h crx'-n this dprorai)le condition of affair.; Ja and h U cruel an 1 taninmn la the .ciders cf that party to attempt to vctags length of v V.cc i -.1 weeks or !vvs wa a i a o uri , v,i a a. uaa, . t- v--i. ijf ' i nary or coiorea popuiattcn. j pr x- .lu I, ,- " - 1;, franchlAc.I unir the tnrtpos-f amecd North Carc.ini accord.rg to K-Jara- ,. wa- Jw, xjitxl at uou-l Rpcrt cf 1.3 I-par?cm;t -n-jto Jurin Hxe rv!1 m,r roilrd in schools was in 1SJH. i2 2-10 ' , . . ,, . f , . , n . carvi it,r thi white C3in ac4 cnil- wV:e and 61 .-10 colored. PcrccnL.gt -tn wh-,e h,, W1, Jn lh of fvhcol population in average at-; fl uu f h l tendance on school was an 1898. whue. i;ru ,u deroUou 34 .-10; colore J. 32 3-10 ,K-r cent. h .-omen and chtllri or 12 4-3 weeks or C4 days Total oxpi-a-; Th , lnfcJlT.,r Jn f0 d,:ui? for chocia fr th- 'ytiT as I am infcrmel. wherein ttri ending Jur 30. 1899. was tttt.Wl.l,,,,,,., rt ;iir " "'- "iH 1 ..i , tc ott " .milium. i i . I... v i - ; "Masirattsctta ha, abCKit nino and . one-half mor.'ths of public s.-hoti. l ae.r term f.r the entire State will ave.ae this. In "North Carolina the term will only average about three and on-lialf month?. about $23 per month. "Even at the low prices pa'd tcit-herd, ia order to make our term eqiicl to that cf Massachusetts, wc wciili hive to E?en:l more than three t'.me i aa much z we do naw." u t.n been boldly proclaimed t.y Chairman Simmons and .her leader of the DearcciaMc party that the pro posed amendment will not, if adopted, disfranchise a single wnite voter ia th9 State cf North Carolina. M ly 1 ask ihcse gentlemen what i? to become of that unfortunate clo-3 of our white p?ople Who are unable to pay thair : . . . . V . . ! pi--u tax I ii i-uiidn.ii-i.vv ii4-i'-Ji u ':.( bet a placed on tne insolvent list? Th fact that th?y are unable, by vlrkneg-i. poverty, cr otherwise, to pay their poll tax should not be take-n adv int ake of by the lawmakers cf our fitxte for the purpose of degrading the-m la th? estimation of the public.- I know cf many citizen who.se names are on the insolvent list whose character and tiarcdlng Is at good in 'every respect as tbat of the gentlemen wj,3 j-lve uba.ttti the p.-o-josd ' amendment ta the coustitatioa cf ar 'rh c-.x. r.ot include the many hua- drris and thoiismda iho iv nezlrct c.r oversight fail to pay ttteir poll tax f,r Jn aavanee a3 thlst of March. Tiie Democrats j( North Carolina at , tenit t5 j;lsty their actions la re gard 13 prapb-el omendment by averting thajthey feaT negro domi nation. Acccrding t the ctssua of lS'jd our population r j.it.37. and "cf teat population emly 562.000 were negrof.s; and I am uure that If a cen sus c culd be taken at this im? it would disclose the fact that the white people outnumber the negro in a greater pro portion than they did In 18&0. Accord ing to the census of 1890 the whltec outnumbered the negroes more than 1 two to one. and no Intelligent cirtzc u on b ialuced to believe that two white Ncr;h Carolinians are la danger of beine dominated br one nejtra. things it can not ie. trmia ear- lie.?: dawnc-f civilization to thia gooJ hour the great White race, "has glrta to th? war Id its history, tu philosophy, its laws, it government, and ItaChTi tianity, and It will continue to do to. The colored people of my Etat ia tat main are conservative and well be haved. They have never acted effen EA.1y. ror Lave thry thown a diapsfi tion to interfere uitb. the mhlie people in the management of the State' af fairs. It Is true that there are worn exceptions, but In no instance ha Use condct of the negro been of such a nature as to challenge the serious con eideration of tbe white people. I take it that no one will seriously contend that there Is or ever was tbe slightest danger f the State government ot North Carolina berng dominated or controlled by tbe colored people. " It has often been contended by tbe Democrats that there are not more than 30.000 wbiU Republican in North Carolira. I nave made a care Ml pbll of the white Republicans in the State, and I am prepared to show by documentary evidence that can not be contradicted tbat there are over 60.000 white Republican voters 4n tbat State. I do not believe that there are ua-day more than 100,000 colored votera ia the State, and I am sure that at the last election not more than 80,000 colered people voted for tbe co-opeTXtivt ticket. I do not undertake to say tbat the remainder of the colored people voted tbe Democratic ticket, but I do say tbat huitdreds of teaa were roav lttirJr:l ,n ul !ot&r tWr rotmm micy riri co-ant 1 r r tb - w . . m . C1 fh n.a.r:!c Prtr In XTr:b Cat- I Till in. nrvrr-fkl I rv. rv' . Uieujl2 count r. nc wJ ut ta the .-) u C 1K. nhtn-ln the c ln 1 rP a.r In the majority. an.t not on f rccn b doaiiiitrel or cocaal.tl by Jh 'cojerI i ;ple. of th? t aui is a 1a lil. h the oeiroe fMJrr1ty th IVrxnj.-naa elf-I-vl tar.- lr:li:.e an! cwuoly a; in i: ii(,-;on. i a.e. iv,i r. the xse. It rf :,. ro t ne that h, ft. Krn 4ini.Cj tn u 1ttJ.. Croo in tu Var-nie Th-re are a 1ku t j.W tntiwi la iclasa cf on'cred prople that Le !;- !t,e Saath diring that teirih'.e orleal ic tu ajr bJ.J.-S 4 i T - . a a n m -m m . m m by ;id mister, who hal practicail) ff ft btm Sn riling-? cf lui affa'ja during hia absE"e. It a- "the fai'oVul old coloreyl servant wlr foil a wed aia nu ter on th? Kooly ficil rf ba-tle and who was ever TvJy and a-'.UJnK to satn-iflce his life for lul itrif.cr'i ee and comfort. It in tint of peo ple Wb3 are now dc-st.ed !y tbe very m?n who re-eiv-J aa: h sHplettlrd mt-vi'-e at their hand. In speaking e? thia la cf col!rel Ijple the Lite liaiented Crady. la tla f.immia rpcerli In Djuton. aid: "What cf th? c-?io? TLlacfhlm: 1 want n LttU-r fric-cl thia the Mack boy who wa rala 1 by mr lde and wha I now Uuixing patently, mii'a do m Jtt eyes ar. 1 hamji:rx fljrure, through hi lonely way of life. I want no sweeitrr mflc than the rroanlng erf my olJ miarmy." tew lad anl cone to rot, as I hf arJ 1: when she held me In her lovdng arn;. sal Uatn Jir oil black fare alve nie rtole the cares from my biu'n ard led m amil in into leep. I want r.o truer aotil than that wbiri movt-d thetrufct elave. wha for fur ream, while my father fought with the arm', a that barred bla freedom, flept every n!ht at ray mother's chamber door, bold :ti g hr .'nJ bcr children a wafe aa If be hmlinl fciood guard, anl rea!y to lay down hlj humble life oa ber threyboli. History ha r pirrZlel - th fi'td kept by the ner.a In tbe South during the war. "Cften S0 eflsrrx to a t-'iPJtle wbl'e man. ai.l yet thiourh tbeat dok) thrergs women and children walked in rafe-ty. and the wnprotrtel bomea rert.fi In tf-ace. l'nmari!haled tb black battalion mircbej pttieotlra ithe field :n the rconun. to feed ' armies ther fdSecrha would have starved, and rtberod anx:3tly at the bin houive ta "h-jr th tc frarti nuTHter." tjoash cc-riou that bla vlctearien mad their chain eudarinr. Everywhere bumble and kindly: th rough ebampion c? tbe little rcs: tbe i little one: tbe obarrrsrt friend; tb nilent serrry In t: l7wly oWa; ts iJrrwd coun7lor: and bea V 4ti came hcrr.e nvorTir at tbe opes rrave. A thou anl torciej waialJ haae ditibanded erery ?eutbern srmy. but not otv was lighted. "When tbe master, iroltit to a war In wbieb fdavery as Involved. !d to Us sla.e. "I leave my brcoe and loved ernes la your barge." tbe UoVro between mia and mujter stood dis closed. And wbea tbe aave held tbat charg fimi tbroagb storm and temptation, be give new meaalcg to faith anl loyalty. "I relolce that Teo f rry7aa ratne to blm. after rears of w-;ticir !t was all tbe sweeier bcanee tbe b.aek Jianoa trxra wbila the harkk-s fell vers vtainkss cC a sicitle crime againattlw belpWs ones rcalWent to bis care. fom-2 cf o.ir DemorraUc friend Joftify tbeir eoodact by the awertlon tbat the aesrro is Inferior to be mile man. and tbat Tberefore be ia twx. en titled to tbe n)oyaeot of tbe rijrbts gtraranteed by tbe fifteench 3-od-mcfiit; and la tbe cext breath tbey are comoelW to admit that on and atftet tbe 1st day of December, l0t. It Is th purpose cf tbe proposed amendment to place tbe unfortunate white man, a tbe same category tbat tbey mow pro pose to place tbe Illiterate aad poor colored man. In other word, on n4 after December. 108. all wait ms who are ncable to read aad write ar to be placed upon a level with tbe col ored maa, who. cbey coateaa. ts a oe graded being. The proporel amend ment will not la the sgbtest degree affect the race question. Tb Demo crats wiil always coatead that there Is a race qoestlon so long as any num ber of negroes vote again t tbe Demo cratic party. While I contend that It ' tbe du of every White and colored tout la th State who U ta favor of a Republican worm of government to rote agalast the proposed amendment, at the sam Ume I am of the opinion that la tha event tbe white Repoblkara al the Democrats of that State will show tbif loagnaaimity cud patriotism by de feating the proposed scaeadment, aad (Continnsd on Fonrth Psft)
The Caucasian (Clinton, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 1, 1900, edition 1
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